California Random Pictures

So we've been in San Diego County for almost a month now and have taken scores of pictures.  Here are a few random pics of the area for our readers to enjoy.

Who said it never rains in Southern California?

Oceanside Pier

Palomar Mountain in the distance

Even a trip to the PO box puts us on a scenic route

Normal freeway congestion

Metered entrances to the freeway, supposed to alleviate above congestion

Example of the regulatory nightmare that is Kalifornia

If we only had a nickel for every time we've been through this intersection

The Top Gun house in Oceanside

Real Mexican food

And we have arrived, finally, at The 50th Reunion of the Class of 1962 of Oceanside High School.  Complete coverage begins with the next post.

Old Friends, New Memories

There is no danger of having nothing to do until The Reunion.
We had lots of friends to visit, and things to see.

First of all, Leslie from Montana had flown back for a visit to San Diego just days before Frank came back.  We all met up for a snack in Mission Valley.

Renewing acquaintances in San Diego attire

What DOES Linda carry in that purse of hers?

On the way back from visiting with Leslie, Frank wanted to see Susie Bruun.  He had been in Montana, remember, when Linda helped Susie with the Falcon gear sales at the TPHS football game.

Pure joy in Solana Beach

We couldn't let Friday night go by without going to the Oceanside High School football game.

Frank loved the brand new stadium . . .

Word soon spread throughout the stands that Frank was at the game, and many people came by to say hello.  Eventually, Frank ended up down on the sidelines with coaches he has known for many years.

Colorful pre-game ceremony on the new field

John Kentera, a local sports radio personality,  (Radio 1090 AM) stopped by, as well.  John and Frank go way back . . .  Frank coached John in baseball at Torrey Pines, and then a few years later, John joined Frank as an assistant coach for the TPHS baseball team.

John was doing the live radio broadcast of tonight's Game Of The Week

We also made time for a visit with our dear friend Gloria, who is recovering from back surgery.

Gloria with granddaughter Amelie, and daughter-in-law Sophie

Linda attended a wool festival in Vista with her good friend, Joyce, on a glorious Saturday afternoon.

Local artisans . . . knitters, spinners, weavers . . . so much to see and touch

Just a fabulous way for any fiber enthusiast to spend a couple of hours

Joyce ponders buying a felted hat

And there was the terrific evening with friends we first met when our boys played T-ball together 20 years ago.

Showing Matt's wedding pictures to Greg and his mom

First grandbaby . . . last time we saw him, he was a newborn

Second grandbaby will probably be here by the time you read this post

We filled every moment until the reunion days with good friends, good fellowship, and making more good memories.  

Frank Returns

Soon it was time for Frank to fly back to California.  Linda went to San Diego early in the day to get in some California shopping.   Some of her favorite places are The Container Store and Seaport Village.  

Another favorite spot is the Kansas City Barbecue restaurant on Harbor Drive . . . site of the filming of the famous bar scenes in the movie Top Gun. 

Ask Frank about the Topeka pickles

Then on her way to the airport, Linda caught this picture showing just how interesting the landing path is in San Diego.

Everything they say about landing in San Diego is true

Then it was time to park in the cell phone lot at the airport and await Frank's plane.

Spectacular clouds above Lindbergh Field

 Here he is:

Since it was around 5:45pm when his flight landed, we opted to go to dinner in at the Olive Garden on Sports Arena Boulevard and thus avoid the evening traffic on I-5. 

Frank was glad to be back . . . Linda was glad to have him back . . .

Let the adventure continue together !

Montana

Montana . . . just like you imagined

Frank's flight to Montana was mostly uneventful.  The real fun of the trip started on the way from the airport in Helena to his friend's house.  The scenery was just awesome.  There was a little snow on the ground and the temperature was in the 40's . . .quite a difference from San Diego.

The road to Jim's property

Frank and Jim Dillon were roommates for two years at Cal Western University in San Diego, and have remained close friends ever since.  Jim lived in a house overlooking the Pacific Ocean in San Diego for many years.  He loves birds and in San Diego he had a collection of several hundred birds.  It was quite a sanctuary for the avian friends in his backyard there.

Overlooking the water in Pacific Beach, CA (in 2010)

Jim checking on his many birds

One of the luxurious avian habitats in Jim's Pacific Beach back yard

In 2011, Jim (and girlfriend Leslie) pulled up stakes in Southern California and set up home in Boulder, Montana . . . just about as different as you can get from the beach lifestyle.

Jim's Montana 'cabin'

From the back balcony . . . pristine and quiet

From the front of the house . . . equally spectacular

Jim moved many of his birds (and their cages) to Montana, as well.

The summer homes for Jim's birds

Jim's house is just what you might expect a Montana log home to look like inside.    It reflects the wide-open spaces of the great outdoors.

Living large in Boulder, MT

The outdoor view decorates the dining room

Jim doing chores on his property

Leslie . . . Jim's long-time significant other

After the first few days, the weather warmed up, and the snow disappeared.

Seeing deer on the property was a daily occurrence

Frank spent the week in Montana just enjoying the scenery, and spending time with Jim.  The trip was a perfect way to rest up for the rigors of the upcoming Reunion Week in Oceanside.

Alone in Oceanside

What else did Linda do while waiting for Frank to return from Montana?

Well, there was bingo at the local Elks Club.

 . . .browsing through the amazing array of music at one of Linda's favorite stores.

Then, there was that earthquake . . . much more noticeable when one is sitting in a motorhome.

. . . some shopping at Mission Valley and Fashion Valley shopping centers

Yarn bombing at its finest at the Mission Valley shopping center

The Blue Angels (who are here for the annual Miramar Air Show) did two flyovers  here in Oceanside.  Linda barely got a picture.  During their first pass over the beach, they flew in a straight line and had red, white and blue smoke trails.  Awesome.

And a Sheriff's ASTREA helicopter was on the job searching for some miscreant in the neighborhood behind us.

ASTREA = Aerial Support To Regional Enforcement Agencies

Let's not forget the huge overnight gasoline price increase.  The increase made the national news, and we are living it.

This was at a "cheap" gas station

These are CASH prices  . . . note the credit/debit card prices at the bottom

The only frustration of the week was going to our post office box in Oceanside.  We keep the box for mail forwarding for trips like this.  Anyway, when Linda went to the box, it was empty.  It should have been full ... very full.  We had turned in a mail forwarding order when we left Florida so that our mail would be forwarded to the Oceanside PO Box.  The Oceanside Post Office clerk had entered the information wrong, and had it all forwarded BACK to Largo.  Can we say "your tax dollars at work?"  

We got it fixed, but it was an annoying situation, to say the least.  But, Linda knew just how insignificant this situation was compared to who she saw in the post office, also dealing with a problem:  Junior Seau's father was there, closing Junior's post office box.  It was a sad, poignant moment.  Mr. Seau is well known in the community, and you could see that this was a difficult moment for him.

Come back for the next post to read all about Frank's trip to Montana.

Friday Night Lights

 

October + Friday nights = High school football.  What else? 

After all the years and years (and years) of attending high school football games, you'd think it wouldn't even cross Linda's mind to attend a game on her own.  With Frank up in Montana, and not coaching on the sidelines as he did for so many years, what would be the point of her going? 

THE place to be on a Friday night

And yet, Linda drove down to Torrey Pines High School to help sell Falcon gear at the request of her good friend, Susie.  It must be in the blood. She saw very few people she knew, however.  After all it has been 7 years since we were last at TPHS . . . the coaches are different, the teachers are different, and of course the parents we knew are long gone.

Football mom gone wild

Sadly, the Falcons lost the game to Poway, 35-0.  But, the Falcon gear sold well . . . at the end of the evening, we had taken in $875 for the booster program.

After the game, Susie and Linda went to The Brigantine Restaurant, and old haunt of theirs from when they first struck up a friendship after one high school football game over 30 years earlier.  Over cheeseburgers, Diet Coke and Courvoisier, they caught up on each other's lives and relived the best and worst parts of years gone bye.  It was so much fun. 

Oh, did I mention that they were at The Brig so long that it was well past closing time?  The serving staff was cleaning up for tomorrow, the bartenders were counting their money and taking the daily liquor inventory, and the parking valet had even gone home.   The ladies giggled at the thought they had "closed the Brig."

Next morning, it was up bright and early for breakfast at T's Cafe in Solana Beach with Susie and her grandsons, and then a stroll down the weekend Art Walk on the Coast Highway.

 

All in all . . . a terrific 24 hours.